World Cup 2010 - Top Players

Frank Lampard

Would you agree with me that Frank Lampard is actually one of the world's top soccer players? It will probably be his last chance to prove it in this coming World Cup. In the recently concluded EPL season, Lampard not only scored some 27 goals - this is more than even what many top strikers could do. In the Actim Index which is used to monitor and gauge what each player rated throughout the season for things like completion of passes, successful tackles, goal assists and goals scored, etc. Lampard aced 8 out of 10 categories! Moreover, he is one of the world's best penalty takers if not the best. To top that all, he got through an entire season without a caution or red card. Amazing!

He goes about the business the same way every season and outscored many strikers out there. That is why I have his England jersey. Let me share with you this true story that once when I was wearing this jersey outside, probably due to its wear and tear, it so happened that the "D" from the word "Lampard" fell off at the back of the jersey. For those who understood Hokkien, it sounded like a description of an anatomy of the body which is also used as an expletive!

It was a comical situation. I guess such things happen to the best. During the World Cup season, you will more or less know who are among the top players in the world based on League and Cup competitions everywhere but quite often, top players can be jaded, carrying injuries or suffering burn out due to their long and tiring season. They are already suffering from too much soccer especially the English and can be surprisingly anonymous when the competition kicks off. At the other end of the spectrum, there may be other players including fringe players who could suddenly when given a chance, burst onto the scene and shine like a star and take the tournament by storm. Let me introduce to you some top players and what they can do with a ball.

Lionel Messi

There's nothing to say about Messi for a picture or video paints a thousand words. Just wanted to say that he never got involved in diving and when he was genuinely manhandled, he would just pick himself up and get on with the game and yes he plays the game with a smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLW4DKoncvM&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdrmrd8JFDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_zlly5oXU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciaAtOPjy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amdpqc0A1bs&feature=fvst

Kaka

It's good to be a Brazilian soccer commentator. You just need to know three words - Gol! Goooool! Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27pPBjWNRc0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7dDpi0FV0Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDnjQFmE_zY&feature=related

Cristiano Ronaldo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWfAEzbSarY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJetwg_nGs&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euMu1SKi-ak&feature=related

These are some of the tricks that I used to be able to do including the cross-legged chip or cross and is a favourite of the Brazilians. Our very own S. Rajagopal was already doing the cross-legged cross since the 70s during the Malaysia Cup days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pQr5ASTrZU
There were some controversies over Fabio Capello's England selection like why he had to gamble with Ledley King who has a crocked knee and why he even tried to persuade Paul Scholes to return after he has given up international soccer for some years and at age 35? I last explained why Ledley King is so highly rated and why Thierry Henry at his peak said he was his most difficult opponent. Now, of all people Zinedine Zidane the world's best player for a few years at his peak picked Paul Scholes as his most difficult opponent. Why?

Zidane, among other things said that it was impossible to get the ball from Scholes when Scholes was in possession. This meant that Scholes has a great soccer brain and already saw what he needed to do with the ball before he receives it - to hold, pass, run with it or to shoot. He would have already released the ball before anyone could get near him. Of course there are more to this including his crucial goals. As we all know, Gareth Barry has been outstanding for Villa and later Manchester City and England. When Scholes played opposite of Barry in an EPL game, Scholes outfoxed him throughout the game. This must have been what told Capello that this is the World Cup and he must bring along what he thought is the best available. However, reports of him trying to get England to switch to a 3-5-2 formation does not impress me.

No.1, the English are too accustomed to a traditional 4-4-2 formation. They are comfortable here even though it may seems predictable. You need to play to your strength. No.2, You don't "change horses in mid-stream". You don't want to experiment at this stage as the players will get confused and lack confidence as they are not used to the new formation. All these experiments must be done in friendlies over a period of time. No.3, this same thing happen when Steve "Wally with the Brolly" McClaren did it and got spanked. However, McClaren has gone on to succed with FC Twente in Holland. Capello is no fools. I think he said it with tongue-in-cheek to throw off their opponents to keep them guessing. Hopefully.

3 weeks to go before South Africa kicks off against Mexico. Lovely! Let the world forget some troubles and enjoy the spectacles that will soon unfold!

P.S. My old school band boys are having a soccer tournament tomorrow. I took part last year but giving it a miss this time as I have to keep myself injury-free for the World Cup! I wish the team - the "Bandz Bazookas" well and hope they have fun time together!

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World Cup 2010 - Top Players

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